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(No Model.)

G. H. ELLIS. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING BOOTS AND SHOES. No. 261,211.

Patented July 18, 1882 n. PCKEIS. mmumo n w. Wnhingwn. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. ELLIS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK WILLIAM MARSHALL, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING BOOTS AND SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 261,211, dated July 18, 1882.

Application filed March 14. 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that. I, GEORGE HENRY ELLIS, a subject of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, residing at London, England, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Apparatus for Cleaning and Polishing Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new or improved apparatus for cleaning and polishing boots and shoes; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of annular or circular brushes, disposed in pairs, in the manner hereinafter described.

The annexed drawings will render the invention readily intelligible, Figure 1 being a view of the improved apparatus, partly in elevation and partly insection; and Fig. 2, a plan of same.

In carrying out my invention I provide annular or circular brush-stocks A, of convenient diameter, whichl cut out of disks of millboard, straw-board, card-board, papier-mach, wood, or other suitable material, and which are thrown or molded up on their inner diameter to form beveled surfaces; and I may here state that I prefer to use mill-board, straw-board,or the like, instead of wood, as such substances are not so liable to warp as wood is. Any numberof thicknesses of these substances may be used, so as to give the necessary rigidity to the working portion of the apparatus. In or upon the outer surfaces of these stocks I place or fit the bristles a in rows, leaving ample space between such rows,not only for the purpose of economizing bristles,but more particularly for the purpose of establishing a series of air-currents alternating with the friction of the bristles, having found such air-currents most efiectual in the cleaningand polishing of damp boots and shoes. The brush-stocks thus constructed are placed together in pairs, back to back, on a central or common disk,B,to which they are secured by nails, cement, or otherwise. On the upper and lower surfaces of this disk B are placed other disks, 0 0, (said disks being those from which the brush-stocks have been cut,) which are glued or cemented thereto, so as to strengthen the central disk, B, carryingtheannularorcircular brushes. Oneach of these disks 0 G is secured a boss, D, pro- (No model.)

vided with a central orifice suitably hushed, and through these orifices and through all the disks a vertical spindle, 0?, passes, whichis fitted at its lower end into a stand or base-plate, E. The spindle projects a short distance below the stand or base-plate, and forms a stop or abutment, for the purpose hereinafter described. This stand or base-plate may be provided with lugs e, furnished with holes; orthe holes may be contrived in the stand itself, for the insertion of screws for securing the apparatus to a table,dresser, or shelf; butthe stand may be secured in any other convenient manner-as, for instance, by a clamp and thumbscrew.

It is desirable for the successful working of the apparatus that the spindle carrying the brushes should be mounted eccentrically on its base-plate or stand, which base-plate or stand may be circular, as shown, or of any other desired shape, the spindle being placed near one edge of the same, and that the apparatus should be fixed at the edge of the table or dresser, in order to obtain the greatest possible amount of brush-surface. The projecting portion of the spindlelimits theextentto which the base-plate or stand can be fixed on the table or dresser. Fig.2shows this arrangement clearly, Z being the edge of the table or dresser.

H are the handles or knobs, by means of which motion is communicated to the apparatus, one such handle being fixed to the upper disk, 0, and the other to the lower disk, 0.

One of the brushes serves to clean the dust or mud from the boot or shoe, and the other serves to polish the same.

The working of the apparatus is as follows: The brushes, combined and arranged as here in described, are mounted horizontally on the vertical spindle, and areset in motion by one hand, the boot or shoe being held by the other hand to the lower brush, which is to act on it, and after the dust or mud has been brushed from the boot or shoe the brushes are reversed, 5 in order to' bring the cleaning or polishing brush into position ready for operation. The brushes can be speedily reversed, as desired, and with as little trouble as the changing of hand-brushes. Blackingis applied to the boot ice or shoe by a hand-brush, as usual.

Having now described my invention, I destrengthening-pieces C G, bosses -D, spindle b, and stand, substantially as and for the purposes specified. 1

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal,in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 20th day of February, 1882.

GEORGE HENRY ELLIS. [L. s]

Witnesses:

WILLIAM LEE,

68 Fleet Street, London. J. WATT,

17 Gracechurch Street, London. 

